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Group claims Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave job to former senator for same-sex marriage vote

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo, center, hands pens to legislators on June 24, 2011, after signing a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. The lawmakers included then-Sen. James Alesi, right, recently appointed by Cuomo to a $90,000-a-year job.
(The Associated Press)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo has given a former Republican senator who was a key to the legalization of gay marriage a $90,000-a-year job in his administration.

The religious conservative group New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms says Cuomo gave former Sen. James Alesi (uh-LEE-see) the plum job for his vote that gave Cuomo a major policy victory. The group said Tuesday that Alesi isn't qualified for the job on the state unemployment insurance appeals board, which will pay him more than his legislator's salary in addition to his state pension.

Alesi was a Monroe County Republican who voted against gay marriage in 2010, but in 2011 said he changed his mind. At the time, Alesi was already facing an uncertain re-election back in his district and retired rather than seek another term.